University Watch

(Feb. 20, 1997, Gazette)

Still time to retire at Dal

HALIFAX, N.S. -- Although the window for taking early retirement at Dalhousie University closed Jan. 10, there's still time for some university employees to take advantage of the enhanced early retirement benefit. At the Jan. 13 Dalhousie Senate meeting, President Tom Traves said 79 academic staff and 56 staff members had opted for early retirement, according to Dalhousie News (Jan. 29, 1997); most will retire by June 30, 1998. Special arrangements have since been made for eligible pension plan members who did not choose to take early retirement by the deadline, but who learned that their positions would be eliminated by July 1, 1998, for budgetary reasons, or because of the amalgamation of Dalhousie and the Technical University of Nova Scotia.

TAs reach agreement, tentatively

TORONTO, ONT. -- The University of Toronto Bulletin (Feb. 3, 1997) reported that teaching assistants (TAs) and the U of T's administration have reached a tentative three-year agreement. The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3902 unanimously recommended to TAs that they accept a contract that includes a wage decrease of 1.25 per cent in 1997 (effective March 1), an increase of three- quarters of a per cent in 1997-98, and a similar increase in 1998-99. The agreement was ratified after voting took place Feb. 4-6.

Enrolment drop hurts at UW

WATERLOO, ONT. -- A decline in enrolment is contributing to the University of Waterloo's financial problems, according to University of Waterloo Gazette (Jan. 29, 1997). Revenue from tuition fees was budgeted at $50,144,000 for this year but is now expected to be $49,150,000. Much of the decline is in the areas of international graduate enrolment, and part-time distance education enrolment. Provost Jim Kalbfleisch told the university Senate's finance committee that since the Ontario government removed its controls on international student fees a year ago there has been a "great tuition-slashing competition" across Ontario. Waterloo now has international student fees "among the highest in the province," he said. Historically, about one in 15 students at Waterloo has been from outside Canada. Members of the committee were also told there's been a drop in the number of part-time students (especially those studying by correspondence) across the country, and possibly around the world.